Temu Croissant Lamp Goes Viral on TikTok for Being an Actual Croissant

Imagine purchasing a lamp, putting it in your room, and then returning after a hot day to learn that it is… covered in ants.

That’s what one TikTok user came home to earlier this month when @froginahatgirl discovered her Temu croissant lamp was attracting the eusocial insects. The content creator immediately started investigating — documenting her experience on social media — only to discover that the lamp was, in fact, a real croissant.

A video of the influencer cracking the lamp open, revealing the very clearly laminated and bready interior, and even breaking off a piece to taste (which you should not do if you have a similar lamp, because it is likely coated with resin), has now racked up more than 13 million views on TikTok to-date. So if you, like @froginahatgirl and many social media accounts, are wondering how and why a company would make a lamp out of a literal croissant, then I think I can help find some answers.

The lamp in this viral clip comes from Temu, a China-based online consumer goods company that sells merchandise at a steep discount. The brand purveys almost everything you can imagine, ranging from power tools to bras, pet supplies, guitars, and car parts. You name it, Temu probably sells it. 

According to Temu, the company is able to keep its prices so low because it sells products directly from manufacturers instead of having a brand as a middleman. However, the e-commerce retailer has also been at the center of controversy in the past for issues like selling counterfeit goods and having poor-quality merchandise, in addition to much more serious allegations like the use of “slave labor” — all of which could be tools to lower costs. A lack of customer service has apparently also been a problem.

What is clear in this instance is that the croissant lamp @froginahatgirl owned was shoddily made. It appears to have been coated in a light layer of resin, with nothing on the inside protecting the layers of pastry from the elements or the electric light it contained. Other users on TikTok and the creator of the video seem most appalled that the croissant is real. But while Temu certainly did a terrible job at creating this product, it’s not that absurd to think you could make a lamp out of a croissant.

Founded in 2016 out of a workshop in Kobe, Japan, Pampshade by Yukiko Morita is a Japanese-based brand that’s been making stunning bread-centric light fixtures for almost a decade now; and just like Temu, they start with real baked goods. While working at a bakery as a student, Morita hated seeing old bread thrown away — instead, she’d carry it home, finding a use for the loaves, whether that meant eating them or turning them into decoration. From there, Pampshade was born.

Unlike Temu, Pampshade takes the proper precautions to ensure its croissant, baguette, boule, and toast-based lamps will retain their appetizing appearance and integrity, without decaying or, you know, becoming covered in ants. The Pampshade FAQ explains that the bread “has been carefully hollowed out and preserved with an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal coating.” The lights are finished with a protective resin coating, and reviews for the company’s croissant lamp are stellar, indicating it stands the test of time.

And if the thought of having an actual croissant on your bedside table still makes you uncomfortable, no matter how much resin is applied, there are also food-shaped lamps that aren’t constructed from the real deal. But I, personally, will sleep a little better at night knowing there is a genuine croissant next to me.

Bread lamps that won’t attract ants

Pampshade’s bread lamps come in a variety of loafs and pastries, but the baguette is one of my favorites. Each product is made by hand (yes, they are baked!), and the length of the baguette lamp means it will emit more light than one that’s croissant-sized. Simply place it on a table, lean it against a wall, or hang the baguette next to some art.

This entirely artificial croissant lamp is well-reviewed on Amazon, plus I can promise it won’t attract ants since no edible ingredients are involved. Its small size makes it an ideal night light for children, and it’s constructed from baby-safe and non-toxic materials. Next time you need a last minute gift for someone with kids, this is an easy and affordable idea.